LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas reported a new record one-day increase in coronavirus cases Thursday as 11 more people in the state died from the illness caused by the virus.
The Department of Health said the state’s probable and confirmed virus cases rose by 1,548 to 117,360. The state’s previous record one-day increase was 1,337 new cases reported on Oct. 23.
The newly reported deaths COVID-19 deaths raised the state’s death toll since the pandemic began to 2,037.
The actual number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested and people can carry the virus but not feel sick.
The state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations rose by 25 to 667.
Arkansas ranks 21st in the country for new cases per capita, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The White House Coronavirus Task Force said this week that 75% of the state’s counties have moderate or high community transmission of the virus.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the latest increase shows the state has the virus in all its communities.
“The coming weeks are critical, and we must be diligent, intentional, and not be careless,” he said in a statement.
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